Feed roll for package tubing equipped with cutting and sealing means

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns packaging of products on sale outlets. It concerns a feed roll for heat sealing package tubing reel ( 11 ), comprising a body ( 3 ) provided with, in particular: means ( 4 ) supporting at least one reel ( 2 ) of package tubing ( 11 ); an outlet head ( 5 ) for the tubing including: at least an outlet window ( 10 ) for the tubing, means for cutting (15) the tubing, means for welding ( 16 ) the tubing, means ( 6 ) guiding the tubing between the reel ( 2 ) and the outlet head ( 5 ). The invention is useful for supplying and welding a heat sealing tubing in a fish market.

This application is a National Stage of PCT/FR01/00678 filed on Mar. 7,2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns the field of the packaging of products ontheir sale outlets and in particular food products sold retail.

The invention more particularly concerns the field of devices used tostore the paper or film used to packaging and provide the trader withthe paper when demanded. The invention also concerns the field ofmachines used to ensure a sealed closing of the packaging embodied.

In the field of the packaging of food products, the patent FR 2 775 252proposed implementing a tubing constituted, at least in part, by a heatsealing material. This tubing, packed into rolls, is intended to be cuton the site of use to a length slightly larger than that of the productto be packed. One extremity of the tubing is then closed by heat sealingso as to embody a bag. Then, after introducing the product to be packedin the embodied bag, the other extremity of the tubing is heat-sealed soas to obtain an approximately sealed packaging.

The use of this packaging tubing is particularly useful for the packingof food products, such as fish or meat when these products are soldretail.

-   -   However, to the knowledge of the Applicant, there does not seem        to be any device making it possible to use on easy fast sales        outlets the packing or packaging tubing according to the patent        FR 2 775 252.

In fact, the document WO 94 227 23 describes a packaging machinedesigned for the high rate production of bags from a heat sealingpackaging tubing reel. This machine comprises a body provided with meansfor supporting a packaging tubing reel. This machine also comprises anoutlet head for the tubing via a window and means for guiding the tubingbetween the reel and the outlet head. The outlet head includes means forwelding and cutting the tubing, said means being mounted on a movingelement whose to-and-fro movement is controlled by a motor element.

The means for activating the cutting and welding means described in thispatent are relatively complex and onerous and definitely do not make itpossible to embody a fully sealed packaging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to resolve the drawbacks mentioned above andconcerns a less heavy feed roll of simple design which is able to bothmake available to the user a heat sealing packaging tubing as the meansrequired to embody a sealed packaging from this tubing.

So as to attain this objective, the invention concerns a feed roll for aheat sealing packaging tubing reel including a body provided inparticular with:

-   -   means for supporting at least one packaging tubing reel,    -   a tubing outlet head including:    -   at least one tubing outlet window,    -   tubing cutting means    -   tubing welding means,    -   means for guiding the tubing between the reel and the outlet        head,    -   characterised in that the outlet head includes means for the        simultaneous control of the cutting means and the welding means,        said control means being formed by a handle and an oscillating        arm bearing a portion of the cutting means and the welding        means.

According to one characteristic, the invention aims to provide means foreasily welding the final closing of the packaging obtained by means ofthe heat sealing tubing.

So as to attain this objective, the welding means are placed downstreamof the cutting means with respect to the reeling off direction of thetubing.

According to a first embodiment variant, the outlet head includes asecond window known as welding window adapted to allow from outside thehead the introduction of a portion of at least one packaging intended tobe welded by the welding means.

According to a second embodiment variant, the outlet head includes anon-return feeder placed between the cutting means and the welding meansand intended to prevent access to the cutting means from outside thehead via the outlet window.

The invention also concerns a feed roll which can be used according tovarious positions depending on the location where it is to be placed.

So as to attain this objective and according to one characteristic ofthe invention, the outlet head is movable and the body has means forfixing the head, said means being adapted so as to permit a mounting ofthe head according to at least two separate orientations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Miscellaneous characteristics appear in the description shown below withreference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way ofnon-restrictive examples the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a preferred embodiment of a feed rollaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the feed roll according to FIG.1 in another use position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing another phase forusing the feed roll of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross section illustrating another method for mounting thefeed roll shown on FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views respectively similar to those on FIGS. 1 and 3showing the phases for using another embodiment of the feed roll of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown more particularly on FIGS. 1 and 2, the feed roll of theinvention denoted in its entirety by the reference 1 has been designedto receive at least one heat sealing packaging tubing reel 2, such asthe one described in the patent FR 2 775 252. To this effect, the feedroll 1 includes a body 3 provided in particular with means 4 forsupporting at least one packaging tubing reel 2. Moreover, the body 3 isequipped with an outlet head 5 for the tubing and means 6 for guidingthe tubing between the reel 2 and the outlet head 5.

According to the example shown, the means 4 for supporting the reel 2are formed by a spindle 8 intended to pass through the centre of thereel and come to rest in two cradles 9 fitted in the body 3 of the feedroll 1. Of course, the support means 4 could be embodied in another way,such as in the form of two rolls on which the reel 2 would come intosupport on its external surface.

The outlet head 5 includes at least one window 10 for the outlet of thetubing 11 derived from the reel 2, as shall appear subsequently. Thehead 5 also includes means 15 for cutting the tubing 11 and means 16 forwelding the tubing 11.

For reasons to be explained subsequently, the cutting means 15 arepreferably, but not exclusively, placed upstream of the welding means 16with respect to the reeling off direction of the tubing 11, as indicatedby the arrow F₁.

According to the example shown, the cutting means 15 include a mobileknife 20 borne by an arm 21 oscillating around a horizontal axis 21 ₁.The knife 20, with a length greater than or equal to the width of thepackaging tubing 11, is designed to cooperate with a fixed cuttingthroat 22 having a length approximately equal to that of the knife 20.Thus, the knife 20 and the throat 22 form a sort of jaw able to beopened or closed by the movements of the oscillating arm 21 which thusbears a portion of the cutting means 15. It is to be noted that the arm21 is preferably controlled on opening by elastic return means so as tobe kept in an open position A, as shown on FIG. 1.

Similarly, the welding means 16 include a heating bar 25 mountedintegral with the oscillating arm 21. The heating bar 25 is intended tocooperate with a counter-bar 26 so as to press an element or portion ofthe tubing 11 to be welded. The length of the heating bar 25 and that ofthe counter-bar 26 is greater than or equal to the width of thepackaging tubing 11. According to the example shown, the heating bar 25is mobile, whereas the counter-bar 26 is fixed. Thus, the oscillatingarm 21 bears a portion of the welding means 16. Of course, it ispossible to invert the positions of these two elements.

It is to be noted that the knife 20 and the throat 22, as well as thebar 25 and the counter-bar 26, are placed approximately transversally tothe tubing 11 and more particularly to its reeling off direction F₁.

Finally, the feed roll 5 includes means 6 for guiding the tubing 11between the reel 2 and the outlet head 5 and have been adapted so as topreferably, but not exclusively, bring the tubing 11 as far asdownstream of the cutting means 15 with respect to the reeling offdirection F₁ and directing the tubing 11 towards the outlet window 10.

First of all, the guiding means 6 include a guiding roll 30 and apressing roll 31 between which the packaging tubing 11 is intended topass as shown by the dot-and-dash lines on FIGS. 1 and 3. The guidingmeans 6 further include means 32 for driving the guiding roll 30 so asto ensure a forward movement or reeling off the tubing 11 by placing theroll 30 in rotation. According to the example shown, the drive means areconstituted by a handle 32 integral with the roll 30 and accessible fromthe outside of the body 3 of the feed roll 1.

Of course, the drive means 32 could be embodied in a form other than ahandle, such as, but not exclusively, in the form of a controlled motorso as to function automatically or be controlled by a switch accessiblefrom the outside of the body 3. Similarly, the means 32 could ensure adriving in rotation of the single pressing roll 31 or of the two guiding30 and pressing 31 rolls simultaneously.

The guiding means 6 also include at least one guiding plate 33 extendingupstream and downstream of the guiding 30 and pressing 31 rolls withrespect to the reeling off direction F₁. This guiding plate 33 isadapted so as to guide the tubing in front of and behind the rolls 30and 31, as well as during the time it is initially introduced betweenthe rolls 30 and 31.

According to the example shown, it is to be noted that the guiding plate33 is curved and forms an angle immediately in front of the guiding roll30. The plate 33, together with the guiding roll 30, delimits anintroduction zone 34 which forms a sort of tunnel in which the extremityof the tubing 11 is introduced when initially placing the reel 2.

According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, the guidingplate 33 extends between the guiding 30 and pressing 31 rolls. So thatthe rolls 30 and 31 carry out their guiding and drive functions, theplate 33 then defines at least one zone 35 in which the pressing 31 andguiding 30 rolls are able to guide and press the tubing 11simultaneously.

According to the example shown, the plate 33 defines two lateral zones35 for guiding the tubing 11 between the rolls 30 and 31. The guidingroll 30 then has a central recess 36 for passage of the plate 33, and,on both sides of this recess 36, a shoulder 37 for cooperating with thepressing roll 31 so as to ensure the guiding and driving of the tubing11.

The feed roll of the invention is used as follows.

First of all, the reel 2 is placed and then the tubing 11 is passedbetween the rolls 30 and 31 by a user or operator. In order to do this,the user applies the tubing 11 against the plate 33 by making it moveforwards as far as the roll 30. The tunnel shape of the introductionzone 34 then facilitates the tubing 11 being taken up by the guiding 30and pressing 31 rolls.

The user then activates the control means 32 so as to have the tubing 11move between the elements making up the cutting 15 and welding 16 meansas far as the outlet window 10 from which the tubing can be directlypulled by the hand of the user.

When the user wishes to carry out a package from the tubing 11, he pullsa tubing length in keeping with the dimensions of the product to bepacked. The operator then uses as a device for the simultaneous controlof the cutting 15 and welding 16 means a handle 40 embodied at theextremity of the oscillating arm 21 and lowered by the operator in thedirection of the arrow F₂. In this working position B shown on FIG. 3,the feed roll 1 firstly cuts the tubing 11 with the knife 20, andsecondly seals with the heating element 16 the extremity of the cuttubing element. The heating element 16 is kept at a temperaturecorresponding to the melting temperature of at least one of theconstituents of the tubing by a regulation system not forming part ofthe present invention.

With the feed roll 1 of the invention, the operator has thereforeembodied from the tubing 11 and by a single manoeuvre of the oscillatingarm 21 a sort of bag open on one side through which it is possible tointroduce a product to be packed.

Once the product is inside this bag, the operator can reintroduce thenon-closed extremity of the bag into the window 10 so as to place thisopen extremity at the level of the welding means 16. Then, via acting onthe handle 40 in the direction of the arrow F₂, the user welds thefourth side of the bag and packs and seals the product placed inside thepackaging obtained from the tubing 11. Thus, having regard to thepositioning of the welding means 16 downstream of the cutting means 15with respect to the direction F₁ of reeling off of the tubing, it ispossible to weld a portion of the packaging introduced from outside thehead 5.

According to a preferred embodiment of the feed roll of the invention,so as to ensure that the extremity of the tubing element reintroducedinto the head 5 does not damage the extremity or edge 42 of the tubingderived from the reel and situated at the level of the cutting means 15,the outlet head 5 includes a second window 41 known as a welding headplaced above the outlet head 10. This welding window 41 is adapted so asto allow introduction from outside the head of the portion of thepackaging intended to be closed by the welding means 16.

Thus, during introduction of the packaging to be closed into the weldingwindow 41, its extremity is situated above the extremity 42 of thetubing 11 derived from the reel 2 and is thus unable to damage it orpush it back before or during the welding operation.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment variant of the feed roll on theinvention and which differs from the embodiment variant described withrespect to FIGS. 1 to 4 in that the cutting head 5 includes a non-returnfeeder 55 placed between the cutting means 15 and the welding means 16.One extremity of this feeder 55 is preferably secured to the arm 21between the knife 20 and the welding bar 25, whereas the other extremityextends as far as the window 10, as shown on FIG. 5. The feeder 55 thusextends via its own weight at the level of the lower portion of theoutlet window 10. Of course, it is possible to mount the feeder 55between the cutting throat 22 and the counter-bar 26. The feeder 55 ismade of a flexible material having a melting temperature higher than thewelding temperature of the tubing 11 so as to avoid being altered by thewelding means 15.

The feeder 55 provides a non-return function so as to prevent access tothe cutting means 15 from the outside of the head 5 via the outletwindow 10. In fact, having regard to the position of the non-returnfeeder 55, the tubing 11 originating from the reel 2 comes out of thewindow 10 by passing below the feeder 55 which contributes in guidingthe tubing 11 as far as the window 10.

On the other hand, when a tubing extremity to be welded is reintroducedthrough the window 10, the feeder 55 limits this introduction so thatthe extremity of the tubing can only be reintroduced into the head 5 asfar as the level of the welding means 16. In this way, the feeder 55ensures that the reintroduced portion of the tubing is not cut again bythe cutting means 16 and thus avoids the formation of waste which wouldbe likely to damage a padding of the groove 22.

It is to be noted that the non-return feeder 55 is embodied in amaterial which does not alter the effectiveness of the welding means 16so that the tubing originating from the reel 2 is fully welded when itis pressed between the heating bar 25 and the counter-bar 26 withinsertion of the feeder 55 between the tubing 11 and the bar 25.

Having regard to the presence of the non-return feeder 55, it is then nolonger necessary to provide at the level of the head 5 a second window,known as a welding window, situated above the outlet window 10, as shownin the first embodiment variant.

According to a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of theinvention, the outlet head 5 is movable and the body 3 has means forfixing the head 5 which are adapted to allow a mounting of the headaccording to at least two separate orientations. Thus, according to theexamples shown on FIGS. 1 and 4, the head 5 can be adapted on the body 3so that the reel 2 is placed below the head, as shown on FIG. 1, orabove the head 5, as shown on FIG. 4. The means for fixing the head 5 onthe body 3 can be constituted by screws (not shown) intended to passinto additional perforations 45 and 46 fitted respectively on the body 3and the head 5.

This faculty of mounting the outlet head 5 according to two separateorientations makes it possible to configure the feed roll of theinvention according to the location where it is to be used.

Thus, when the reel is placed below the head 5, as shown on FIG. 1, thefeed roll 1 can be applied on a support S, such as a wall or a lowerpart of a bench top. To this end, the body 3 includes means (not shown)for fixing or hooking to the support.

When the feed roll 1 is in the configuration shown on FIG. 4, with thereel being placed above the head 5, it is possible to place the feedroll on a bench top or a table P, the body 3 then being provided withfeet 47.

So as to ensure optimum guiding of the tub ing 11, regardless of theinstallation orientation of the feed roll 1, the guiding means 6include, downstream of the guiding roller 30 in the reeling offdirection F₁ of the tubing 11, a tunnel 50 ensuring guiding of thetubing inside the head 5 as far as upstream of the cutting 15 andwelding 16 means.

So as to facilitate introduction of the tubing, the tunnel 50 preferablyhas at its extremity orientated towards the rollers 30, 31 a flaredentrance zone 51, as shown on FIG. 1.

The tunnel 50 advantageously defines, regardless of the orientation ofthe body 3, a support and guiding surface for the tubing 11 and guidesthe tubing so as to direct it towards the outlet window 10 of the outlethead 5.

When the head is able to be dismantled, the guiding means 6 and inparticular the tunnel 50 are integral with the body 3. Moreover, thetunnel 50 is adapted to then extend inside the outlet head 5 as far aspossible close to the cutting means 15.

According to the examples shown previously, the guiding means and moreparticularly the plate 33 and the rollers 30 and 31 are adapted to havethe tubing take an angled path so as to reduce as much as possible thetotal spatial requirement of the feed roll 1. Of course, the path of thetubing could also be rectilinear.

According to the previously shown examples, the outlet head 5 ismovable. Of course, it is possible that the outlet head is integral withthe body 3 without being able to be dismantled.

Similarly, the guiding tunnel 50 is preferably used when the head can bedismantled, but this guiding tunnel could be used for a feed rollconforming to the invention not having any dismountable outlet head.

According to the examples shown, the means 40 for the simultaneouscontrol of the cutting 15 and welding 16 means are formed by a handleand an oscillating arm. However, these control means 40 could beembodied in any other way and could be motorised.

The invention is not limited to the examples described and illustratedas various modifications can be made without departing from its context.

1. Device for heat sealing packing tubing reel having a body,comprising: means for supporting at least one reel of packing tubing; anoutlet head for the tubing including: at least one tubing outlet window;tubing cutting means; tubing welding means placed downstream of thetubing cutting means with respect to a reeling off direction F1 of thetubing so as to allow welding of at least one portion of a packingintroduced from outside the head; means for guiding the tubing betweenthe reel and the outlet head, characterised in that the outlet headincludes means for the simultaneous control of the cutting means and thewelding means, said means being formed by a handle and an oscillatingarm bearing a portion of the cutting means and of the welding means; andoutlet head (5) includes a second welding window, said welding windowadapted to allow introduction of at least one portion of a packingintended to be welded by the welding means from outside the head. 2.Device for heat sealing packing tubing reel having a body, comprising:means for supporting at least one reel of packing tubing; an outlet headfor the tubing including: at least one tubing outlet window, tubingcutting means, tubing welding means placed downstream of the tubingcutting means with respect to a reeling off direction F1 of the tubingso as to allow welding of at least one portion of a packing introducedfrom outside the head (5); means for guiding the tubing between the reeland the outlet head, characterised in that the outlet head includesmeans for the simultaneous control of the cutting means and the weldingmeans, said means being formed by a handle and an oscillating armbearing a portion of the cutting means and of the welding means,characterised in that the outlet head includes a non-return feederplaced between the cutting means and the welding means and intended toprevent access to the cutting means from outside the head via the outletwindow.
 3. The device according to claim 2, characterised in that thenon-return feeder (55) extends as far as the window (10).
 4. The deviceaccording to claim 2, characterised in that the non-return feeder (55)is made of a flexible material having a melting temperature greater thanthe temperature for welding the tubing.
 5. The device according to claim1 or 2, characterised in that the outlet head (5) is movable and in thatthe body (3) has means (45) for fixing the head (5), said means beingadapted to allow a mounting of the head (5) along at least two separateorientations.
 6. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised inthat the cutting means (15) include a mobile knife (20) whose length isgreater than or equal to the width of the packing tubing (11) andintended to cooperate with a fixed cutting throat (22).
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the welding means (16)include a heating bar (25) and a counter-bar (26) between which anelement to be welded is intended to be pressed.
 8. The device accordingto claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the tubing guiding means (6)include: a guide roll (30) and a pressing roll (31) between which thepacking tubing (11) is to pass, means (32) for driving in rotation theguide roll (30) and/or the pressing roll (31), at least one guidingplate (33) extending upstream and downstream of the guide (30) andpressing (31) rolls and which is adapted to guide the tubing (11) infront of and behind the rolls (30, 31) and for guiding the tubing (11)when it is initially introduced between the rolls.
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 8, characterised in that the guiding plate (33)extends between the guiding (30) and pressing (31) rolls and defines atleast one zone (35) in which the guiding roll and pressing roll are ableto cooperate simultaneously with the tubing (11).
 10. The deviceaccording to claim 8, characterised in that the guiding means (6)include downstream of the guiding roll (30) in the direction F₂ ofreeling off of the tubing a tunnel (50) ensuring a guiding of the tubinginside the outlet head (5) as far as upstream of the cutting (15) orwelding (16) means.
 11. The device according to claim 10, characterisedin that the guiding tunnel has a flared entrance zone (51).
 12. Thedevice according to claim 10, characterised in that the tunnel (50)guides the tubing so as to direct it towards the outlet window (10) ofthe outlet head (5).